Knowledge is power.
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Chapter X |
From the same it proceedeth,that men gives different names, to one and the same thing, from the difference of their own passions: As they that approve a private opinion, call it Opinion; but they that mislike it, Haeresie: and yet haeresie signifies no more than private opinion; but has only agreater tincture of choler
Thomas HobbesI put for a general inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death.
Thomas HobbesThey that are discontented under monarchy call it tyranny; and they that are displeased with aristocracy call it oligarchy; so also, they which find themselves grieved under a democracy call it anarchy, which signifies the want of government; and yet I think no man believes that want of government is any new kind of government.
Thomas HobbesA Free Man is he, that in those things, which by his strength and wit he is able to do, is not hindered to do what he has a will to.
Thomas HobbesThe Enemy has been here in the night of our natural ignorance, and sown the tares of spiritual errors.
Thomas HobbesBut all this language gotten, and augmented by Adam and his posterity, was again lost at the tower of Babel , when by the hand of God, every man was stricken for his rebellion, with an oblivion of his former language.
Thomas Hobbes" Understanding being nothing else, but conception caused by Speech."
Thomas HobbesSudden Glory , is the passion which maketh those Grimaces called LAUGHTER.
Thomas HobbesAnd Beasts that have Deliberation , must necessarily also have Will .
Thomas HobbesFor there is no such thing as perpetual Tranquility of mind, while we live here; because Life it selfe is but Motion, and can never be without Desire, nor without Feare, no more than without Sense.
Thomas HobbesAnd this Feare of things invisible, is the naturall Seed of that, which every one in himself calleth Religion; and in them that worship, or feare that Power otherwise than they do, Superstition.
Thomas HobbesAnd in these foure things, Opinion of Ghosts, Ignorance of second causes, Devotion towards what men fear, and Taking of things Casuall for Prognostics, consisteth the Natural seed of Religion ; which by reason of the different Fancies, Judgements, and Passions of severall men, hath grown up into ceremonies so different, that those which are used by one man, are for the most part ridiculous to another.
Thomas HobbesFor Prudence, is but Experience; which equal time, equally bestows on all men, in those things they equally apply themselves unto.
Thomas HobbesA Covenant not to defend my selfe from force, by force, is always voyd.
Thomas HobbesMen looke not at the greatnesse of the evill past, but the greatnesse of the good to follow.
Thomas Hobbes"And seeing every man is presumed to do all things in order to his own benefit, no man is a fit Arbitrator in his own cause:"
Thomas HobbesAnd the Science of them, is the true and onely Moral Philosophy. For Moral Philosophy is nothing else but the Science of what is Good , and Evill , in the conversation, and Society of mankind. Good , and Evill , are names that signify our Appetites, and Aversions; which in different tempers, customes, and doctrines of men, are different:
Thomas HobbesBut if one Subject giveth Counsell to another, to do anything contrary to the Lawes, whether that Counsell proceed from evil intention, or from ignorance onely, it is punishable by the Common-wealth; because igorance of the Law, is no good excuse, where every man is bound to take notice of the Lawes to which he is subject.
Thomas Hobbes" and where men build on false grounds, the more they build, the greater is the ruine:"
Thomas HobbesAnd whereas many men, by accident unevitable, become unable to maintain themselves by their labour; they ought not to be left to the Charity of private persons; but to be provided for, (as far-forth as the necessities of Nature require,) by the Lawes of the Common-wealth. For as it is Unchariablenesse in any man, to neglect the impotent; so it is in the Soveraign of a Common-wealth, to expose them to the hazard of such uncertain Charity.
Thomas HobbesAnd when all the world is overcharged with Inhabitants, then the last remedy of all is Warre, which provideth for every man, by Victory or Death.
Thomas HobbesAnd hereby it comes to passe, that Intemperance, is naturally punished with Diseases; Rashness, with Mischance; Injustice; with Violence of Enemies; Pride, with Ruine; Cowardice, with Oppression; Negligent government of Princes, with Rebellion; and Rebellion with Slaughter.
Thomas HobbesAnd for Incoherent Speech, it was amongst the Gentiles taken for one sort of Prophecy, because the Prophets of their Oracles, intoxicated with a spirit, or vapor from the cave of the Pythian Oracle at Delphi, were for a time really mad, and spake like mad-men; of whoose loose words a sense might be made to fit any event, in such sort, as all bodies are said to be made of Materia prima .
Thomas HobbesFor words are wise men's counters they do but reckon by them but they are the money of fools.
Thomas HobbesFor if all things were equally in all men, nothing would be prized.
Thomas HobbesSetting themselves against reason, as often as reason is against them.
Thomas HobbesFaith is a gift of God, which man can neither give nor take away by promise of rewards or menace of torture.
Thomas Hobbes